Dispenser for dispensing product at conditioned temperatures



Feb, 7, 3967 w. LEIKA 3,302,833

DISPENSER FOR DISPENSING PRODUCT AT CONDITIONED TEMPERATURES Filed Dec. 21, 1965 INVENTOR.

WAL TEIQ .LE/KA 7, mgmg ATTORA/iVi United States Patent G 3,302,233 DIE IPENSER FOR DISIENSING PRODUCT AT CONDITIGNEI) TEMPERATURES Walter Leika, Astoria, N.Y., assignor of thirty percent to Bernard Block, New York, N.Y. Filed Dec. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 515,573 Claims. (Cl. 222-146) This is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Serial No. 289,200 filed June 20, 1963, now Patent No. 3,236,420.

This invention relates generally to dispensers of the aerosol and squeezable tube types, and refers more particularly to constructional features in these dispensers which permit temperature conditioned product to be dispensed therefrom.

It is a common practice to package many commercial products such as medicants, make-up, shaving cream, food, etc., in aerosol type dispensers and squeezable or deformable tubes. In general, the product is dispensed and used by the user at ambient temperature. On occasion, however, it is preferable that the product be used at other than ambient temperature. For example, shaving cream is generally more effectively used for shaving if it is pre-heated. In the prior art, devices have been devised for heating product as it leaves the dispenser. These devices, however, are bulky in size and complicated to use. In addition, they do not provide for uniform temperature conditioning of the product.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a dispenser for dispensing product at conditioned temperatures.

Another object is to provide a dispenser for dispensing product at conditioned temperatures wherein the product may be rapidly temperature conditioned within the dispenser and before actual discharge therefrom.

Still another object is to provide a dispenser wherein the mass of product being temperature conditioned is conditioned uniformly.

A further object is to provide a dispenser construction for dispensingproduct at conditioned temperatures which is particularly suited for application to dispensers of the aerosol type as well as to dispensers of the squeezable or collapsible tube type.

Another object is to provide a dispenser for dispensing pro-duct at conditioned temperatures which is simple to make and inexpensive in cost.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

These and other objects of the invention are attained by providing, in a dispenser having an outlet end and an outlet opening centrally disposed at the outlet end, a centrally positioned blocking element disposed between the interior of the dispenser and the outlet opening to prevent direct communication therebetween, and a passageway arrangement extending about the blocking means between the interior of the dispenser and the outlet end in direct contact with the exterior wall of the dispenser to maintain the product in close proximity to the outer wall of the dispenser adjacent to the outlet opening. Preferably, either the dispenser wall or the surface of the insert has an irregular configuration so that the passageway arrangement has an irregular cross-section in the direction transverse to the direction of flow of the product so as to assure good heat exchange between the product in the passageway arrangement and the exterior of the dispenser. The dispenser may be either a squeezable tube or any other type of product container such as an aerosol can and can be built in or attachable. If desired, for heating a product, a heating element may be disposed within the passageway arrangement.

assasss Patented Feb. 7, 1967 In use, a heating or cooling medium as, for example, hot or cold water, electric heating coil, flame, etc., is applied directly to the outside of the dispenser body in the region of the irregular passageway arrangement. Heat transfer between the body and the product in the case of heating, or the converse in the case of cooling, will occur conditioning the product in the temperature conditioning chamber. The product in a temperature conditioned state may then be dispensed by manipulating the dispenser valve mechanism.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section of a representative dispenser arranged according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser of FIGURE 1 taken along the line 2-2 thereof and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section similar to that of FIGURE 1 showing another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section showing a further embodiment in which an internal heating element is included within the passageway arrangement;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the internal heating element of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a squeezable tube type dispenser having a temperature conditioning passageway arrangement and constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a disc type insert which may be used in conjunction with the tube dispenser shown in FIGURE 6 for establishing temperature conditioning passageways therein;

FIGURE 8 is an elevational view partly in section, of the tube dispenser shown in FIGURE 6 illustrating the arrangement therein of the disc insert shown in FIG- URE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of another form of squeezable tube dispenser having temperature conditioning chambers, a portion being broken away to illustrate the location of the special insert employed therewith; and

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the insert used in the tube dispenser of FIGURE 9.

Throughout the specification like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts.

In the representative embodiment of a dispenser 10 shown in FIGURES l and 2, the dispenser comprises a hollow cylindrical shaped body 11 having a hollow tapered end portion 12 terminating in a central projection 13 which has external threads 14 and a central outlet opening 15. The body 11 may, for example, be a collapsible tube or a rigid cylinder from which a product is dispensed by internal pressure and although an open outlet passage 15 is illustrated, it will be understood that any desired form of valve mechanism may be included.

In order to form small volume passageways closely adjacent to the surface of the dispenser 10 and in contact with the wall thereof through which a product may be dispensed an insert member 16 is fixed in position within the tapered end portion 12 in closely spaced relation to the wall 12 thereof. This insert prevents direct communication between the interior of the dispenser and the outlet opening 15 and forms one or more chambers or passageways extending close to the wall of the container and in good heat exchange relation therewith.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, the interior of the end portion 12 has a series of ribs 17 extending radially inwardly a short distance from the wall of the dispenser and the insert member 16 is afiixed between the ribs as by force fitting or by an adhesive. As a result, a series of passageways 18 is provided about the insert 16 along the inner surface of the wall of the tapered portion to convey the product from the interior of the dispenser to the outlet opening in good heat exchange relation with the exterior of the end portion 12, the heat exchange being facilitated by the ribs 17.

When the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2 is used, the end portion 12 of the dispenser is subjected to heat or cold such as by contact with hot or cold water either before or during the time the product is being dispensed or both. Any quantity of product within the passageways 18 is quickly heated or cooled and as the product is dispensed, the additional product moving through those passageways is also heated or cooled rapidly so as to be at the proper temperature upon emerging from the outlet opening 15.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURE 3, a dispenser 20 is generally similar to that of FIGURES 1 and 2 but has no internal ribs in the end portion 221. Instead, the insert 22 of this embodiment is formed with outwardly projecting spacer elements 23 which engage the inner surface of the end portion 21 so as to provide an annular narrow passageway 24 extending along the inner wall of the end portion. Moreover, to retain this insert in position in the dispenser, the lower portion has a number of support tabs 25 disposed around its periphery which engage the inner surface of the dispenser.

It should be apparent, that to provide passageways in which all of the product is in close proximity to the wall of the end portion the shape of the insert should generally follow the shape of the end portion of the dispenser. Thus, if the end of the dispenser is frusto-conical in shape, the insert should preferably be frusto-conical. It is also possible to provide a corrugated surface on the insert. That is, the insert may have a series of ribs and grooves extending around its circumference, the ribs and grooves being directed from top to bottom. In this way, the insert forms a plurality of temperature conditioning chambers or passageways in the end portion of the dispenser. Alternatively, the passageway may have a spiral configuration and be formed by one or more spiral grooves formed in the insert or in the internal surface of the container.

If desired, the temperature conditioning agency may be within the narrow passageway of the end portion rather than external to it. In FIGURE 4, for example, a head of a dispenser St) is shown which is generally similar to that of FIGURE 3 but includes two nested inserts 3i and 32, the insert 31 being hollow and having an opening 33 at the inner end and the insert 32 being closed to prevent the passage of product through it. Accordingly, an annular passageway 34- is formed between the inner insert 32 and the wall of the end portion of the dispenser on both sides of the insert 31, that insert being centrally located within the passageway.

As illustrated in the perspective view of FIGURE 5, the insert 31 comprises a heating element and includes a length of resistance wire 35 wound about its outer surface. Accordingly, when a product is to be heated, the layer 35 is energized by connection through a plug (not shown) to a power source, for example, and any product within the passageway 34 is heated before it moves through the outlet opening of the dispenser. If desired, the insert 31 may have a closed loop winding held in grooves spirally embossed so that it can be heated by a high frequency field applied to the end portion of the dispenser so as to avoid the necessity for external wire connection.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a dispenser in the form of a squeezable type tube 160 in which product is dispensed therefrom by squeezing the tube to force the product out through neck opening 101. This type of tube is generally used for packaging pastes and creams. The tube tilt) in the tube.

ally provided with a plurality of temperature conditioning chambers. It was found advantageous to make the spacing between the parallel side walls N4 and Hi5 of each rib substantially equal to the diameter of neck open. ing Iii The fiat shoulders 107 extending between each rib 162 are arranged slightly inclined relatively to the longitudinal axis of tube 160. The disc-shaped insert 1% illustrated in FIGURE 7 is used in conjunction with tube liltl. It is inserted in the tube before it is filled with product and sealed. The insert 103 is provided with outwardly directed tabs 169 to hold'the insert in place in the tube in the position shown in FIGURE 8 wherein it is located just below the shoulder M7 on the tube. When it is desired to temperature condition product in the tube, the user squeezes the tube in the well-known manner. This will force the product to flow into each rib 162, this effect being assured by use of the insert 108 since the product can only flow past the insert at the circumferential periphery thereof. The product in each rib (or the temperature conditioning chamber constituted thereby) is then temperature conditioned by applying a temperature condition agency directly to the outside of the ribs in the same man ner as previously described. Product in a temperature conditioned state may then be dispensed by the user removing the cap covering opening lltil (not shown) and further squeezing the tube.

FIGURE 9 illustrates a different form of squeezable tube construction wherein the tube Iii has a smooth main body 111 and a frusto-conical top 112 terminating in neck 113 which in turn is provided with an opening IE4. The insert 115 illustrated in FIGURE 10 is used with tu'be lllttl being inserted and supported therein as shown in FIGURE 9. The insert 115 has a generally cylindrical lower body 115 and a frusto-conically shaped top body 117. The surface of the insert is corrugated containing a series of crests 118 and grooves 119. The insert I15 also has tabs 120 which hold it in place with- In this construction, the insert generally conforms in shape to the inner surfaces of the tube 110 adjacent the neck 113. The crests 1318 contact these inner surfaces of the tube so that the grooves 11% of the insert constitute with the inner tube surfaces, a plurality of temperature conditioning chambers. In use, product is forced into the grooves (which are the only flow channels or passageways from the inside of the tube communicating with opening 114) and it is temperature con ditioned therein in the same manner previously described, the temperature conditioning agency being applied directly to the outside of the tube adjacent the neck 113.

The dispenser construction of the present invention provides dispensers which are particularly suited for use in dispensing a variety of viscous products such as medicants, shaving cream, lotions, foodstuffs, adhesives, etc., where it is desired to temperature-condition the product for use. It offers the advantage that the dispensers are relatively cheap to make and simple to use. For example, the various insert members may be of molded plastic or stamped metal, the projections and tabs therein being formed in the molding or stamping in a simple, single operation. The dispenser construction of the present invention adapts itself to easy application of the temperature-condition agency. For exemple, hot or cold water is easily applied to the dispenser in the region of the temperature-conditioning chamber. There is thus little danger involved to the user and no chance that the product will be contaminated inasmuch as it is conditioned while still in the dispenser.

In addition, it should be apparent that the dispenser construction may be used as an attachment to a container such as a tube or aerosol can rather than as an integral part of the container. Moreover, the dispenser construction may be attached to a large volume supply for production lines, or may be embodied in a cap for glass bottles or the like.

While there is above disclosed but some embodiments of dispenser construction, it is possible to produce still other embodiments without departing from the scope of the inventive concept herein disclosed.

I claim:

1. A dispenser for dispensing viscous products and the like comprising a hollow elongated generally cylindrical container enclosing a space for holding viscous product, means forming a single closeable opening centrally positioned at one end of said container, the container being otherwise sealed and having an end portion containing said closeable opening and including wall means having an inner surface tapering generally inwardly toward said closeable opening, and insert means affixed in the dispenser within said end portion and having an outer surface in substantially uniformly spaced relation from said inwardly tapering wall means inner surface to form passageway means of substantially uniform Width from said wall means extending along said wall means from the interior of said dispenser toward said closeable opening so as to maintain a product passing therethrough in close contact with said wall means and in good heat exchange relation therewith, the insert means being closed at the end adjacent to said opening and preventing communication between the interior of the dispenser and the opening thereof except along said outer surface of said insert means, at least one of the inner surface of the wall means and the outer surface of the insert means having a plurality of projections extending toward the other surface to facilitate heating of 40 a viscous product disposed therebetween.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein said inwardly tapering end portion is formed with a plurality of inwardly directed projections to form a plurality of passageways for a product being dispensed.

3. A dispenser according to claim 2 wherein the inwardly directed projection comprises rib members and 5 the insert means is eflixed to the inner edges of the rib members.

4. A dispenser according to claim 2 wherein the inwardly directed projections extend to and form said wall means and the end portion includes a plurality of outwardly projecting hollow ribs providing additional heat exchange passageways between said insert means and said closeable opening.

5. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein said insert means is formed with a series of crests and grooves extending along the length of the passageway means to provide a plurality of passageways.

6. A dispenser according to claim 1 including heating means disposed within said passageway means.

7. A dispenser according to claim 6 wherein the heating means comprises an intermediate insert disposed between said insert means and said wall means.

8. A dispenser according to claim 7 including electrical heating means mounted on said intermediate insert.

9. A dispenser according to claim 7 in which said intermediate insert is shaped to conform to the shapes of said wall means and said outer surface of said insert means.

10. A dispenser according to claim 1 including means forming at least one spiral passageway between the insert means and the container wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,760,773 5/1930 Penney 222564 X 2,203,299 6/1940 Hallwood 222146 X 2,657,836 11/1953 Heinz et a1. 222564 X 3,236,420 2/ 1966 Leika 222146 X 3,241,724 3/1966 Lerner 222146 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner. N. L. STACK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DISPENSER FOR DISPENSING VISCOUS PRODUCTS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A HOLLOW ELONGATED GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER ENCLOSING A SPACE FOR HOLDING VISCOUS PRODUCT, MEANS FORMING A SINGLE CLOSEABLE OPENING CENTRALLY POSITIONED AT ONE END OF SAID CONTAINER, THE CONTAINER BEING OTHERWISE SEALED AND HAVING AN END PORTION CONTAINING SAID CLOSEABLE OPENING AND INCLUDING WALL MEANS HAVING AN INNER SURFACE TAPERING GENERALLY INWARDLY TOWARD SAID CLOSEABLE OPENING, AND INSERT MEANS AFFIXED IN THE DISPENSER WITHIN SAID END PORTION AND HAVING AN OUTER SURFACE IN SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORMLY SPACED RELATION FROM SAID INWARDLY TAPERING WALL MEANS INNER SURFACE TO FORM PASSAGEWAY MEANS OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM WIDTH FROM SAID WALL MEANS EXTENDING ALONG SAID WALL MEANS FROM THE INTERIOR OF SAID DISPENSER TOWARD SAID CLOSEABLE OPENING SO AS TO MAINTAIN A PRODUCT PASSING THERETHROUGH IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH SAID WALL MEANS AND IN GOOD HEAT EXCHANGE RELATION THEREWITH, THE INSERT MEANS BEING CLOSED AT THE END ADJACENT TO SAID OPENING AND PREVENTING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE INTERIOR OF 